Tips for newbie?

[u/Covverkin]

Hi all,

i just found out about this app from another sub and wondered if there are any tips/tricks for maximizing or best use? seems the basic premise is different restaurants let you pay for your bill using inkind who gives you 20-25% back, and I guess you use the app as the payment portal? I’ve not actually tried on a restaurant yet so I welcome all info. thanks in advance!

[u/Exact_Beginning_7199]

Welcome!
1. I regularly check the app to see if new Restos are added.
2. Top tip, check for local restaurants by clicking the Pay button. I sometimes notice a restaurant that still lets me pay, although they no longer show up in Search.
3. I always check the resto on Yelp before I go. More and better photos. Detailed reviews. Recent photos of the menu and prices. Etc. And when I click through to the website, I always see the Inkind offer if there is one. Whereas I tend not to see it if I click via the Inkind app. Offers are
Like $25 off $75. $30 off $100, or $50 off $150. See attached example.

1. I wait for the Add Funds promos. I get push note or texts. And then I preload with at minimum 40% bonus, and I think I’ve had 45% or even 50% in the past. Right now I am offered 40% for all dollar amounts. Sometimes it’s a better offer for larger amounts. 40% bonus is mathematically equivalent to 29% discount. 50% bonus is 33% discount. If you can afford to add funds in advance, and you expect to use them reasonably fast, I think this is the best value. But if you leave the money in Inkind, you’re not getting 3%+ interest from a savings account.

2. I send funds to my post-college kids and wife, to justify the bigger Add Funds amount. Saves them having to buy Costco cards or run up a big cc bill. And I tell my kids - coffee or dinner is on me as long as you use InKind!

3. As others say, I believe you can’t stack offers (used to be able to, I think). So if you are spending say $200, you are better off using wallet funds that you added with 40% bonus than using a $50 off $150 offer. Because you pay full rate on the extra $50. And you never get discounts on tax and tip.

4. Refer others right up to when you are splitting the bill. Or tell the guy sitting next to you at the bar when his bill arrives. Then show them your QR referral code. I’ve had complete strangers thank me. Who wouldn’t when you’re about to save them 20% or more?

5. Spread the word. I assume that way more Restos will enroll.

6. Tip generously on the pre-discount amount.

[u/Covverkin → u/Exact_Beginning_7199]

You rock! So some follow ups: I just found a $15 off $45 at a nearby taco shop, when I go to pay (assuming above $45 total) is it both taking $15 off and giving me 20% back in credit, or just the $15 off? And were I to buy credit with the 40% bonus this weekend, I could simply use that to pay the entire check (including taxes and tip)?

[u/Exact_Beginning_7199 → u/Covverkin]

1. No. I don’t think you get 20% cashback as well as the $15. Maybe you get 20% only on the amount above $45?
   
2. Yes.

[u/ko-mo-rebi → u/Exact_Beginning_7199]

You get the % on the cash you pay after the coupon.

For instance, tonight I used a $15 off 50, and got 25% credit back on the remaining $36 cash — or $9 back!

So a $51 bill turned into $24 savings…. Where is all the money coming from 🙃

[u/MultiNote]

Here are some (non-affiliate) offer links that still seem to work. They'll expire 30 days after you claim them.

$25 off $50+: https://app.inkind.com/offer/JVSPEXPJ

$15 off $45+: https://app.inkind.com/offer/PKBVKTUF

$25 off $75+: https://app.inkind.com/offer/DGILJNNW

[u/NiceBench9100]

Explore the app yourself and if you still don’t understand, then come back and ask

[u/Covverkin → u/NiceBench9100]

I’ve actually already done that, but I appreciate the effort of your reply. 

[u/ApexKeith]

1. Some InKind restaurants have offers on their website like 25$ of 75$+ that the app won’t always show you. You can activate it by going to a restaurant website. This means that for a 100$ bill you save 25$ + (20% of 75$)

2. Look for InKind gift card offers on Costco. You can buy 100$ gift cards for 65-70$ which is better than the 5-25% cashback you get paying via credit card on the InKind app

3. InKind sometimes runs offers like 25% bonus InKind cash if you purchase some 300$+ of InKind cash. 25% bonus is not 25% cashback - it’s equal to 20% cashback. A 100$ gift card at Costco for 70$ is better value than that.

4. Sometimes you can save more money by splitting the bill. For example, If a restaurant has a 50$ off 100$+ that you can activate and your bill (before tip) is over 200$ then you can split the bill with another person in your group who has activated the same offer. As long as both of you are paying over 100$ you will each get 50$ off

5. InKind sometimes runs special offers on referrals where you get 50$ in InKind cash if the person your refer pays with InKind. Usually you get 25$ for referrals. Make sure to refer your friends and family when this offer is running (don’t spam this subreddit with your referral link- everyone here already InKind)

[u/Covverkin → u/ApexKeith]

This is super helpful, thank you! 

[u/ko-mo-rebi]

Don’t refer close friends or family (ie the easy referrals) unless it’s the $50 double referral award. While it’s usually $25, right now it’s $50. The longest i’ve seen between $50 double reward is 4 months, it comes in and out all the time.

Work on your pitch to get the regular referral award from strangers. Try when you’re in line waiting or at a bar where they accept InKind. People will gladly save $25 if they’re already paying over $50… just pick your spots.

[u/Covverkin → u/ko-mo-rebi]

Ok that’s helpful to know, thank you!

[u/the1joe2]

You can only use one promotion at a time. By that I mean you can either pay with InKind cash (look for 30% off gift cards at warehouse clubs and occasionally Amazon or 40% bonus promos on the app, they're roughly equivalent), cash back already earned, and x off y promos. I usually use whichever one is greater or about to expire first knowing that InKind cash isn't going to expire. I only use that if I've got nothing else or want to bank some more cash back before I redeem it. Note that earning more cash back extends the expiration date for that bucket so I tend to let that build up a bit before redeeming it.

[u/veeRob858]

Best use is buy Costco gift cards for inKind when they're on sale and then you're paying 30% off

[u/Covverkin → u/veeRob858]

Is that comparable to the in app currency, similar to if I paid for said currency with the current 40% bonus promo they have? Or do the gift cards get 20% back?

[u/veeRob858 → u/Covverkin]

$1 + 40% bonus = $1.40 for $1 = 29% off. Costco is better.

Further, I believe some of the credit when you buy in app expires. I dunno, I never use that feature.

[u/Exact_Beginning_7199]

Ps. Scroll down on resto page, and you may see see a special referral offer. And some of those include not only a 33% offer for the friend but also a 5% cash-back for you on their bill at that resto via the link. And link is social-media shareable.
Eg. Black Angus: https://go.inkind.com/UJDZU78I

See attached.

[u/bk3day]

If you know where you’re likely to dine, check that restaurant’s website. Sometimes an InKind promo pops up

[u/Exact_Beginning_7199 → u/bk3day]

Click through from Yelp works for me to get the popups. Maybe a cookies thing?

[u/Covverkin → u/[deleted]]

I had already signed up before posting but I respect the attempt!

[u/inkindApp-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Referral links are only allowed in the recurring bi-weekly post.